Grate.



rATENTED JULY'so, 1907.

A. B. WILLOUGHBY.

GRATB. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 6, 1906.,

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UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

GRATE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907'.

Application filed December 6, 1906. Serial No. 346.540.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED B. WILLOUGHBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to grates which are es pecially adapted for upright boilers having circular furnaces; and in such Aconnection it relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of the grate.

The principal objects of my invention are first, to

provide a grate which permits of the running of the .lire

at maximum capacity without the necessity of clearing the same; second, to so arrange the grate as to permit of the removal of ash and other refusematter from the bottom of the fuel bed, without disturbing the upper layer of the same in process of combustion; third, to so'arrange the grate bars as to increase the space for passage of air through the bars to support combustion of the fuel at a low draft pressure and thus at a low velocity of air to permit of a more perfect combustion of the volatile gases generated by the decomposition of the fuel; fourth, to so shape the grate bars as to permit of the free expansion and contraction ef the same without one bar interfering with an adjacent bar; fifth, to form for this purpose the grate of rings or annular bodies arranged concentrically with respect to each other; sixth, to provide a support for the rings which permits of the movement of the same and of the dumping of the entire body of fuel in the shortest possible time; seventh, to provide means to actuate each of the rings forming the grate-bars separately or conjointly; eighth, to provide each of the rings on the underside with teeth and on the upper portion with a serrated surface, 'which respectively permit of the actuation of the rings in their support and forcing of ash and other refuse matter into the spaces between the rings; and ninth, to provide the grate with centrallyarranged means to permit of the admission of heated air through and above the fuel bed to assist in the combustion of the volatile gases arising from the fuel-bed.

The nature and scope of my present invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure l, is a top or plan view of a grate removed from the furnace, consisting of annular bodies or rings arranged concentrically with respect to each other and having upper serrated surfaces, means for movably supporting the rings, means for moving the same Within their support, dumping means for the grate and centrally arranged means for permitting of the passage of air through the grate free ofthe fuel, resting upon the same, all embodying main features of my said invention. Fig. 2, is a view, illustrating partly in section and partly in elevation, the lower or leg portion of a boiler, the furnace chamber formed by the same, and the grate movably connected with the boiler. Fig: 3, is a similar view at a right angle to Fig: 2; and Fig: 4, is a detail view, enlarged, illustrating partly in section and partly in side elevation a portion of the grate, the support for the same; and the means for actuating the rings, by engaging the toothed portion thereof.

Referring to the drawings 5, represents grate-bars consisting of a series ofy annular bodies or rings 0f gradually decreasing diameter so as to permit of the concentric arrangement of the rings with respect to each other and of the formation of air spaces 6, between the same. Each of the rings or bodies 5, tapers in crosssection towards the lower `end and at the upper portion is provided with a serrated surface preferably consisting of tooth-like .projections 7, rounded at their upper free ends 8, and terminating at their inclined and partially rounded sides 9, into preferably fiat or straight portions l0, for a purpose to be presently more fully explained. The bodies or rings 5, are supported by a carrier or spider-frame ll, preferably consisting of flanged bars l2, arranged parallel to and at a certain distance from each other. At the free ends each set of two bars l2, are united by a head piece 13,of which two oppositely arranged head pieces in one instance terminate in trunnions 14, while in the other instance, the same serve to support a sectional shaft l5. The upper portion of the bars l2, are provided with slots 1G adapted to receive the lower portion of the ringsor annular bodies 5, which at this portion are provided with teeth 17, serving as a support for the rings upon the bars l2. The bars l2, provided with a fiange at their upper ends are of a width greater than the distance of two teeth 17 from each other, thus permitting of the free sliding of the teeth of the rings 5, over the bars l2. In order to permit of the free rotation of the sectional shaft l5, in certain of the head pieces 13, collars 18, of pinions 19, adjacent to the same pass through the head pieces, while the collars I8, of the -pinions 19, arranged intermediate of the end pinions serve to hold these pinions a defined distance apart, that is, the distance of one ring 5, from the other to permit of each of the pinions to move, if desired, one of the rings 5, in the bar l2. The collars 18, of the innermost pinions 19, pass through braces 38, placed between the bars l2, the head pieces 13, of which, serve to support the sectional shaft. y In order to move adjacent rings 5, in opposite directions to each other the pinions 19, are divided into two sets of pinions 20 and 2l; one set on a section of the shaft l5; of which the set of pinions 20, engages the odd numbered rings 5, and the set 2l, the even numbered sets of rings, as shown in Fig: 3. When it is desired to move only the odd numbered rings 5, a sleeve 22, coupling the sections of the shaft 15, with each other, by means of a lever 24, and hand-rod 25, is shifted so as to rest on the shaft section actuating the even numbered rings. In this instance the even numbered rings remain stationary,lwhile the odd numbered rings, are actuated by the shaft 15. Upon the' bars 12, of the spider-frame 11, and within the innermost of the rings 5, is placed a collar 26, adapted to support a conical shaped dome or cap 27, provided with an opening 28, passing through the apex of the dome, and with openings 29, arranged at a right angle to the walls of the same, and located around the central opening 28, as shown in Figs: 1 and 3. rlhe height of the cap or dome 27, is such as to project with its upper end or apex above the bed of fuel placed upon the rings 5, to permit air to pass through the opening 28, without being compelled to pass through the fuel bed, while the openings 29, assist in supplying air to that portion of the fuel, which rests upon the dome or cap 27. The grate so formed is preferably located at tlie end of the leg portion 30, of an upright boiler, not shown, having a circular furnace 31, of a width slightly larger than the diameter of the grate so as to permit of the swinging of the same within the furnace 31, to dump the fuel resting thereon, For this purpose the trunnions 14, of the supporting frame 11, are engaged by brackets 32, secured to the underside of the boiler 30, and one of the trunnions 11i, terminates in a square portion 33, which permits of the engagement of the saine, by a hand crank similar to the hand crank 34, adapted to rotate the shaft 15, and pinions 19. In order to swing the grate the crank 34, is preferably removed from the shaft 15, so as not to interfere with the tilting of the grate.

As shown in Figs: 2 and 3, the grate with its serrated upper surface is preferably placed slightly above the lower end of the boiler 30, and the fuel is placed thereon at a height not exceeding that of the cone 27. The rings 5, consisting of solid bodies separated from each other are permitted to freely expand under the influence of heat without in the least interfering with the expansion of the other rings thus extending the life or usefulness of the grate, and at the same time permitting of the removal and replacing of a broken ring, by another ring by merely removing the fuel from the ring which is to be replaced, without interfering with the fuel on the other rings. By the concentric arrangement of the rings the combined area of air spaces 6, formed between the same is nearly equal to the supporting area formed by the rings 5, and thus the volume of air permitted to pass between the rings 5, is such as to allow fires to be worked under a low draft pressure to insure a thorough .combustion'of the fuel. Moreover, the air entering the furnace through the spaces 6, at a low velocity permits the gases of combustion to remain for a longer period of time in and about the heating surfaces of the boiler before being withdrawn from the same, thus also permitting of a more thorough consumption of the more volatile gases of combustion which otherwise would pass off unconsumed into the stack, not shown.

, Therefore a greater heating effect with a given quantity of fuel as well as a more perfect combustion is ob tained, which state of combustion is rendered possible by the supply of highly heated air passing through the self/s4 opening 28, of the cap 27, which conducts the same un-V consumed into the gases of combustion at the central portion of the furnace 3l. The air which passes through the openings 29, of the cap 22, assists in the thorough consumption of the gases of combustion in that the same will pass in an oblique direction through the fuel bed into the furnace chamber 26, and into the gases of combustion. These gases will thus be supplied with the requisite amount of heated air to insure complete combustion before being withdrawn from the furnace chamber 31. By maintaining the rings 5, during their movement in exactly the same plane they occupy, when at rest, it follows that the ash and clinker can be removed from the bottom ofthe fuel bed without in the least disturbing the upper surface thereof, in the process of combustion, thus permitting the fires to be run at maximum capacity without the periodic necessity for clearing the same. rlhe thorough removal of the ash and other refuse is greatly assisted by the serrated surface of the rings 5, the projections 7, of whichhave the tendency, when the rings are moved, to force the refuse into the spaces 6, between the rings 5, through which spaces aided by the tapering outline of the rings 5, in cross-section, the refuse readily drops. When it becomes necessary to remove the fuel this is accomplished in the shortest possible period of time by merely turning the grate on the trunnions 14, into an oblique position. v

Having thus described the nature and objects of myinvention, what 1' claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. A grate, consisting of a series of rings concentrically arranged with respect to each other, means for loosely and removably supporting and holding the rings defined distances apart, and means to permit of separate or conjoint rotation of even and odd numbered rings in said support.

A grate, consisting of a series of rings concentrically arranged with respect to each other, means for loosely and removably supporting and holding the rings defined distances apart, means connected with said supporting means to permit of an oscillating movement of the same and ot' the rings carried by said support in a vertical A plane, and ineans carried by said support for separately or conjointly rotating the even and odd numbered rings therein.

I. A grate, consisting of a series of rings concentrically arranged with respect to each other, a iframe, consisting ot parallel bars united at their ends to loosely and removably support and hold said rings defined distances apart, a sectional shaft carried by said frame having means for separately engaging each of said rings, said sectional shaft and the means carried by the same, adapted to rotate the even 'and odd numbered rings separately or conjointly in said frame.

4. A grate, consisting of a series of rings concentrically arranged with respect to each other, a conical body arranged centrally to said rings having an opening in the vertical axis thereof and a series of openings arranged radially thereto, a trame for supporting said rings and body, and means for rotating the even and odd numbered rings separately or conjoiutly around said body in lsaid frame.

5. A grate, consisting of disconnected rings concentrically arranged with respect to each other, each ring having a serrated and rounded upper surface and a toothed lower surface, a frame for supporting said rings, and means carried by said frame for separately or conjointly rotat ing said rings by engaging the toothed surface thereof.

6. A grate, consisting ot a series of rings concentrically arranged with respect to each other and each having a serrated upper surface and a lower toothed surface, a

conical body arranged centrally to said rings having an opening in the vertical axis thereof and a series of opened, when rotated, to move the even and odd numbered 10 ings radially arranged thereto, a frame, consisting of rings separately or conjointly in said frame.

parallel bars united at their ends for loosely and remov- In witness whereofy I have hereunto axed my signaahly supporting said rings and conical body and holding ture, in the presence of the two subscribing Witnesses.

said rings defined distances apart, trunnions connected with certain of the bars ol said frame for movably snp- ALFRED B. WILLOUGHBY. porting' the same, a sectional shaft carried by said frame, Witnesses: pinions mounted thereon, each meshing with the teeth of J. WALTER DoUGLAss,

one ol' said rings` said sectional shaft and pinions adapt- Guo. W. REED. 

